Deflector for infants&#39; toilet seats



g 1954 M. FELDSTEIN DEFLECTOR FOR INFANTS TOILET SEATS Filed Oct. 13, 1948 45 f INVENTOR.

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Patented Aug. 17, 1954 NEED ATENT ()FFlQ 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to toilet seats and attachments therefor, and more particularly to deflectors or splash-shields for toilet seats used by infants.

An object of the present invention is to provide a potty-chair or stool or the like for infants which embodies a disappearing splash-shield or deflector therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an infants potty-chair or stool which has incorporated therewith a splash-shield or deflector which is concealed within the stool or chair or the like when the potty-chair is not in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a covered potty-chair or stool with a splash-shield or deflector so designed and constructed that the said shield is concealed when the stool is not in use but which will be properly positioned and immediately ready for use when the cover of said stool is raised.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a splash-shield or deflector for use with an infants covered potty-chair which need not be manually positioned or disposed for use with said potty-chair, but which splash-shield is independently and automatically disposed for use when the chair-cover is raised.

Further objects of the present invention will be readily discernible by reference to the appended spec flcation, claims and drawings.

The idea of attaching a cup-shaped deflector or splash-shield to an infants toilet-training device or to an infants seat-cover (adapted for use with a toilet bowl intended for adult use), is not new. Prior patents have disclosed the broad idea of attaching a. deflector of one sort or another to an infants training-seat so that the larger adult toilet-bowl can be used alternately by adults or infants.

None of these prior patents disclose a splashshield particularly adapted for use with an infants potty-chair. A potty-chair can be dis.- tinguished from an infants toilet-training seat in that the toilet-training seat is adapted for use on an adult-size toilet-bowl, whereas an infants Dotty-chair or seat includes an independ- 2 a training-seat is used in cooperation with an adult toilet-bowl.

In addition, a novel feature of the present invention resides in the splash-shield or deflector which is automatically adjusted for use when the stool-cover is raised for use. This feature permits the entire stool to be instantly available to infants without the necessity for training the youngster to position the deflector or the necessity of having an adult supervise preparation of the potty-chair.

It is thus contemplated that the present invention will provide a sanitary and convenient toilet-bowl for use by infants which insures a maximum of protection and a minimum of care, operation or guidance on the part of the parent.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are'at present preferred, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings where like reference characters refer to like parts:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one form of infants potty-chair incorporating the novel features of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents'a vertical cross-sectional view generally along the lines 22 but showing the deflector and seat-cover in lowered position (with the raised-portion of each shown in dash-dot lines).

Figure 3 represents a partial vertical crosssectional view also generally along the lines 22 of Figure 1 but on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 represents a partial vertical crosssectional view generally like that of Figure 3 but showing a modification of the present inven tion.

Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the splash-shield or deflector, and the support therefor, shown in Fi ure 4.

Figure 6 rep-resents a vertical cross-sectional view generally along thelines $--6 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 represents a perspective view of the hinge-portion on an enlarged scale, of the deflector and support embodied in Figures 1, 2 and 3. I

Figure 8 represents a vertical cross-sectional view, on a still larger scale, of the hinge and spring-portion of the deflector and support disclosed in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7.

of Figure 1,

Opening in the periphery thereof, particularly in.

the front, as at 27.

Disposed beneath the seat r2lipan'd'zwithini'the' confines of the legs 2|, is a bowl or receptacle 28, which has a diameter generally-in'excess'"ofthe greatest dimension acrossetheeopeningflfia,

The container 28 also has a flange 29 adapted to engage a pair of grooved guides 30 disposed on the underside of the seat 25.

As is shown'sparticularlyr in: Figures 2. and :6, the guides 30 are adapted to support-itheiicorrtainer :2 8 sclosely adjacent the sundersidetof. the

seat 25 11in such; azmanner that no sgap'tor space" appears :betweenr: the seat 1 and: the container. Such construction? is '5 highly' desirable for pur posesrof rimprovedz:sanitation';: reduction llnl size Ofi' the chair; and: ease". in handling'rthe entire potty 'chair combination-1.

A handle 3| :onxtheecontainer 28 permits .easy.

removal of the container 28 from'atheeguidezlifl and'itheachair 2 after the cpottyrchair has been usedzf.

In. addition, av seatacovert 32 2 is" pivotally or swingably'attached: to seat 1255.103 arpair of hinges 33; .so'positioned;. adapted: andudesigned as to permitt-thei seat-'covert32i inxitsalower position, to'cornpletely:concealethe opening-26in the seat 25, and in. its upper .or raised position' to :provide a icomfortable, inclined ribackrest for the infant when'seated ;upon-'?the schair.

At f the front "of :the openingrr2 6; generally 'in. thezarea indicatediatzfl; aasplasheshield.- orrde flector: 34 is imountedzlupont-the: seat;:25;: closely adjacent the: edge-2 Saar.

The splash-shield: 34 genera-lly-z consists of a: concave cup-shaped bowl or deflector 35 lnaving.

one-edge 36 pivotallysecuredctoasupport :31:

The cup '3 may zbe TCOnS-tTuCtEd '70f warious ma-z terials such ass'wood: or rubberpbutwpreferably is: made of! a- .moldedrisynthetic='..1'esin. Likewise,

the support 3's-alsotmayz-becmadewof wood :or' metal orsynthetic resin or'sany -other convenient Or -available material-.5

One end 38 of the suppo1ttt37 isadapted-tocm operate with .the-..end ::36FOf-ftheEcup SE so that thecup '35 mayjpivot ini-relatiorrto-.the support 31. This support Slamaygbe: provided with a series'of holes:39 wherebyzthenupport 3'! may: be aflixed to th'e seat :25eandrlmoresparticularly.. to theaedge ZE -aof therseat 25.25

The support 31 preferably is shorter in length:

than thecup135, and izis adaptedcato be secured to-the edge 2fi atofftheiseatz25tirr such aimanner that the upper edge 40 does notwproject-beyond the -top surface of.'seat 25:"and'2also in such a manner that the lower: hingedaedge v.of'z the sup port 31 doessnot-,-project beneaththe undersurface of .seat 25: ThisvCOIlStIllCtiOlliiS.: shownv more particularly inFigure 3. In'this fashion the elements of the splash-shield do not project beneath the seat 25; providing-guninterruptedinsertion and removal of the-container 2&with the edge 29 in contact with: the undersidetof-seat25r A number of screws :-4-l:may-be=.used"to fasten 4 the support 31 to the seat through the holes 39. However, I do not mean to limit myself to the use of screws as fastening devices since the support 3! may be fastened to the seat 25 in any one of the many well-known methods used for securing two items together.

As is disclosed more clearly in Figures 7 and 8, the lower edge 35 of the cup 35 may be broken away as at 42 so as to provide two hinge portions-.43 adapted .to receivethe'pin 44 and also adapted toreceive'therebetween a'torsion spring 45. With particular reference to Figure 8, the spring 45 may have one end 46 adapted to bear against :thelower edgeof the cup 35 and its other and adapted to bear against the support 31. In thismanner an-automatically elevating device is providediforthecup 35 whereby said cup will rise to its operative position without being touched by the hands.

With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the cup 35-;is-disposed and may; bexattacheda-to the edge ZB-axinrsuclr a-mannerthatthe cup 35 .-will be: urged-.rby the-spring 1-45 into an. upright position- (shown in solid lines in Figureland in :da/Sh dot-lines in;Figure 2), when the seat-,cover- 32 Conversely, the-seat-- cover 32 aWlll' retain: thecup 35 m a-lowered posi tion (shown in solid lines in Figure 2) when the:

is raised from the seat 2 5;

said seat-.coverdstin :lowered position; Thus; to

*close-the potty-chair, it is necessary only to pressagainstthe back-of 'cup;35:so as topivot theicupv 35-. downwardly and-inwardly about the pin-44,-

forcinggit into the '1 opening 26 :and lowering the Although the spring 45 is strong. -enough to lift the1cup-35 intotupright position,

seat-cover 32.

it :is not strong enough to: overcome the weight of seat-cover 32 when r the t cover tive position Of particularly importance 'is the designofthe support 31 which permits athe' container 28- to slidealongthe-guides*'directly adjacent theunderside of the seat .25'without striking 'or contactingany part of the support 3 1 or the hingemembers :382-01' 43;

An alternative construction is disclosed in Figures 4 and 5 wherein :the lower edge-:36 of the to'enter the seat 25 fromthe upper surface rather.

than fromthe edge 26-a..

A tab 41 on support 31-11 is adapted frictiom ally-to-engage a hole 48in the cup.35. Thus. thetab- 41 maybe slightly taperedso that frictional. engagement between the tab. 4'! and the hole 48 will retain the cup 35.in.elevated position when the cup is raised and positionedfor use.-

However, either the modification shown in Figs. 1, 2'and '3,'or the modification of Figs. 4 and"'5 is adapted' tobe concealed beneath-the seat-cover 32'when-n0t in use: Inthe modification of Figures 4 and 5, the cup -is not -auto matically elevated to operative position but will be manually raised' so as to engage the tab 47 inthe'hole 48. The constructions of. Figures 4 and 5'dispenses w ithrthe necessity'of spring and, therefore, provides afle'ss expensive method of constructing a;disappearing splash-shield; but

38:50 .astoprevent damage to said cup;

is lowered.- However, WhBIlrthE-fSBEtt-COVBI.lS raised; for use,. the cup .35- willimmediately springinto :opera- The cup 35, in either the manually-operable modification or the spring-urged modification, is entirely concealed within the confines of the potty-chair when the chair is not in use. Thus there is provided a neat and sanitary device which is adapted to assist youngsters in the use of a toilet-bowl, but which has no unsightly appearance when the chair is not being used. by an infant.

I have thus shown and disclosed a potty-chair designed to permit its use by infants without any aid or assistance by adults. The potty-chair embodying the present invention is made instantly available for youngsters without the necessity of depending upon the assistance of their parents or other adults.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attribute thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A splash-shield for use on the front of an opening in the seat of an infants potty-chair, comprising a hinged support adapted to be secured to the seat of the potty-chair near the front of the opening therein, and a deflector hingedly secured at one end thereto so that when said support is operatively secured to said seat the deflector may be moved through the opening of the seat, frictional retaining means on said support and frictional retaining means on said deflector adapted to cooperate with said frictional retaining means on said support when said deflector is in its operative position whereby said deflector may be held in its operative position against said support, said support and said deflector being so disposed that when said deflector is in its upstanding operative position no part of said deflector or said support projects substantially beneath the bottom-most surface of said seat.

2. A splash-shield for use on the front of an opening in the seat of an infants potty-chair, comprising a hinged support adapted to be secured to the seat of the potty-chair near the front of the opening therein, and a deflector hingedly secured at one end thereto so that when said support is operatively secured to said seat the deflector may be moved downwardly into the opening of the potty-seat, and means on said support for limiting the upward swinging of the deflector, frictional retaining means on said support and frictional retaining means on said deflector adapted to cooperate with said frictional retaining means on said support when said deflector is in its operative position whereby said deflector may be held in its operative position against said support, said support and said deflector being so disposed that when said deflector is in its upstanding operative position no part of said deflector or said support projects substantially beneath the bottom-most surface of said seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,857,328 Piper May 10, 1932 2,133,416 Bentz Oct. 18, 1938 2,153,866 Hess Apr. 11, 1939 2,545,598 Barnes Mar. 10, 1951 

